“Thirty years ago, when I first came to Vietnam for medical volunteering, I saw so many people suffering from illnesses but unable to seek treatment because they couldn’t afford it. Time has flown by as I’ve stayed by their side,” said Dr. Kim Si-chan (67), director of KIMS Clinic in Vietnam, reflecting on his three decades of service.
Dr. Kim has dedicated the past 30 years to caring for the health of impoverished Vietnamese locals and Korean residents while fostering a medical community to support the growth of Vietnamese healthcare professionals. In recognition of these contributions, he was selected as the recipient of the 4th Kim Woo-choong Medical Award, presented by the Daewoo Foundation on November 2.
The Kim Woo-choong Medical Award was established in 2021 to honor the legacy of the late Kim Woo-choong, former chairman of Daewoo, and to continue the foundation’s mission of supporting medical outreach in underserved and remote areas. Each year, the foundation recognizes medical professionals who have made long-term commitments to helping marginalized communities by presenting the Kim Woo-choong Medical Award, Medical Volunteer Award, and Achievement Award.
An internal medicine specialist, Dr. Kim first came to Vietnam in 1995 as a government-dispatched physician through KOICA (Korean International Cooperation Agency), shortly after South Korea and Vietnam established diplomatic ties. Until 2013, he provided medical services to the underprivileged at St. Paul Hospital in Hanoi and the free clinic in Soc Son District. One major turning point in his journey was the HIV outbreak in a northern Vietnamese village. “As Vietnamese society rapidly developed, I realized that continuing with traditional medical volunteer work wasn’t enough. A proper medical institution was needed to provide comprehensive healthcare,” he explained.
In 2012, Dr. Kim obtained a Vietnamese medical license, and in 2014, he established KIMS Clinic in Hanoi, staffed by a team of Korean doctors. “I am truly grateful that like-minded individuals from Korea joined me, turning it into a comprehensive clinic. Currently, five Korean doctors work as a team to provide care,” he said.
In addition to operating KIMS Clinic, Dr. Kim has been actively involved in training and mentoring Vietnamese medical students. Through the Christian Medical Fellowship Vietnam (CMF-V), he has also supported Vietnamese healthcare professionals in leading their own medical volunteer work for underserved communities, helping them grow into international medical partners.
On being selected as the recipient of the Kim Woo-choong Medical Award, Dr. Kim humbly said, “I am deeply honored, but I feel that I may not be the most deserving recipient.” He added, “There are so many others doing even more valuable work. I will take this award as encouragement to work harder and as a sign of appreciation for the team I work with.”
[Source: The JoongAng] https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25296633
Dr. Kim Si-chan, Recipient of the 4th Kim Woo-choong Medical Award
[Source: The JoongAng] https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25296633